Like many of you, I am hugely inspired by the 90’s. Recently, I did a fun little capsule of accessories through my brand Violette and made some 90’s lyric inspired items; including an iPhone 5 & 6 case, sticky notes and a pocket mirror. Here are a few of the songs/lyrics that inspired them. Check it out and if you feel so inclined, buy something at VioletteNewYork.Com. Whoomp! There it is!

“The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World” is the name of the 1994 hit song and album by Keith Murray. The song was not only catchy, but the spelling of the title made the song even more fun. I mean, you know you have a hit when you can make up words and have everyone sing along to it. The track earned the 50 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the album went gold in 1995. How perfect that it sits on cover of a pocket mirror, easily reminded you of #facts…YOU are in fact THE MOST BEAUTIFULLEST THING IN THIS WORLD!

2. Tupac – “Keep Your Head Up”

We didn’t make any accessories with this tag-line, but it was mighty popular in the 90’s. You could say it when it was most needed and someone was at their most down, but you could also just say it in general in passing or in a goodbye…because times are hard no matter what the era and it’s still a good reminder to look forward to positive things. Not to mention, I’m not much of a Tupca fan – but he bodied this track and in the moment it became an instant classic.

From butt injections, to department store bought festival gear, to fake dread locs and even makeup contouring with photo filters…In 2015, it’s #veryrare to find anything that is really real. Even Kanye made mention of it in the Vic mensa song “U Mad”…when he said “She ain’t really bad, she a photo-thot. I should hire this bitch, she so damn good at Photoshop”. It’s an interesting time at the moment, but the 90’s were all about “keeping it real”. “Keep it real” was even a long-running tag-line and conversation closer…like, “peace out” or “catch you later”…you could throw in a “keep it real”. The lyrics of one of my favorite hip hop groups, Mobb Deep, go…”I got you stuck off the realness” from their song “Shook Ones”. As a reminder to “keep it real” amongst a society invested in illusion, we printed it on sticky notes and pun intended…these sticky notes can be “stuck” anywhere.

4. Wu-Tang Clan – “C.R.E.A.M.”

Wu-Tang has been ever inspiring, but mainly – they took the street term for cash aka “cream” and made it into a hip hop anthem. Even Raekwon has the smash hit “Ice Cream” which shouted out all the “flavors” of women around the world! Years later, many other hip hop artists would dabble in the term…most notably Pharrell and his brand “Ice Cream”. Even my friend Pusha-T has a store called “Cream”! Boom.

Okay, this isn’t a hiphop track and it doesn’t tie into the last product from VioletteNewYork, but it is the jam and it was 90’s slang. I’m almost positive this title was already slang, but this track made the catch phrase even more of a household used name…

Despite it being a Three Six Mafia and an MC Ren song title, I am not familiar with this saying from them. “Fuck What You Heard” was also just a nice 90’s tag-line stated in anger when you wanted people around you to know you were not soft. That, despite being a somewhat calm individual, someone could still get they ass whooped if need be – so forget what you heard about me, I can duff you out if need be. Nothing is making me feel quite as old as explaining 90’s slang right now. So, here it is – “Fuck What You Heard” for your Apple iPhone…to let people know if they were confused about your level of cray, don’t get it twisted, ma!